Charlie V and Linas K got the calls overnight

An old familiar name popped up overnight as the Raptors tried to dip into the NBA free agency waters.

TORONTO STAR PHOTO

May happy returns?

What I'm hearing from some league sources is the team made overtures to one-time Raptor Charlie Villanueva as well as Denver’s Linas Kleiza in the first few hours teams were able to negotiate with free agents.

The response? Some interest from both but it’s still a long way from having either under contract, or even getting them to agree to terms.

Armed with only the mid-level salary exception – the team is not close to cutting ties with all its free agents to get far under the salary cap – general manager Bryan Colangelo could offer part of it to one, all of it to one but it’s virtually impossible he’d get both with the estimated $5.5 million exception.

Charlie V, a fan favourite dealt by Colangelo to Milwaukee in one of the GMs first move, was all but cut loose by the Bucks this week when he wasn’t given a qualifying offer.

He made about $3.5 million last season and will probably command the entire mid-level exception. And there are other teams out there chasing him, too. League sources say Cleveland certainly has interest – the Cavs have the same money available as Toronto does – and Detroit could make a bid.

Kleiza, who league sources says has quite an interest in Toronto, would be much cheaper. He made about $1.8 million in Denver last season and could be had for a part of the mid-level exception.

I think Villanueva’s probably a better fit but a more difficult acquisition, given the circumstances. If he comes and Shawn Marion comes back, who starts at the three? Would Charlie come off the bench? He’d be a relatively expensive backup, wouldn’t he?

But there’s always the Marion situation to think about and I’m hearing around the league most of Colangelo’s time overnight was spent monitoring any possible interest in the 31-year-old Matrix.

Not sure there was a whole lot but there was some and Colangelo has to weigh what he’d get back in a sign-and-trade, if that’s what it came to. Of course, his first goal is to get Marion under contract, but at a reasonable number and that's where the negotiating's gonna take place.

Oh yeah, it’s not going to take very long for Toronto to welcome Carlos Delfino back to the fold. Word around the league is that it’s close, very close.

Okay, back to cutting the grass.

Comments

[Dan]

Doug, it's Linas Kleiza, not Linus Klieza.

Blogger's note: Got it, was in a bit of rush. Thanks

["double D"]

do u think they are gonna sign parker again?

Blogger's note: At the right price, they'd like to, yeah

[chris]

thanks for the update.

I think CV loves it here and the guy can really put the ball in the net but really difficult to see him coming here as a backup. Pretty sure he wants to start.

And he's not a very good small forward. Probably a better defender than Turk (who might be worse than Kapono), but still.....

[chris]

as a side note, still can't believe milwaukee let CV go for nothing. Wow.

[Jordan]

Didn't Linas Kleiza and Jay Triano get into a bit of a shouting match during a game a few years back?

[doug]

I'd have no problems having Charlie V back, if he can put his feelings about BC behind him would be a good fit.... if you look at the east we need to be versatile in our playing style, to give Jay options when we play different style teams....so some nights Charlie V would be a good fit others not as much floor time...like I said yesterday i just don't see him being a good fit with the Cavs, whats Brown to do with all these parts??..Pistons would be a good stop for Charlie V as well as well as the SPurs, if there interested...but as for Toronto he would be a fine fit, give us some flexibility, versatility...

[N]

Good reach outs for Colangelo. LK will be a solid role player at the SF position and Charlie V would be welcomed back by Raptors fan. When that guy is on, he is on!! Actually I don't mind dumping Marion and get Charlie V back with more than the MLE. Bargnani now playing C, Bosh at PF and CV31 playing the 3/4 is a nice frontcourt line up.

Blogger's note: He's not getting both, it's one or the other of Klieza and Charlie; no money to get two of 'em

[han]

raptors should get ron artest

[Sean]

Thanks for the update. i'd love to see them sign both those guys at the right price. Charlie is one of my fav all time Raptors and I think Kleiza has shown alot of potential at times. I can't wait to see what BC ends up doing this off-season with so many different possible things going on.

[chris]

WOuldn't it be ironic if BC somehow used Marion's cap space to sign Charlie? :-)

[Sean]

Isnt Milwaukee letting Charlie V walk a bad sign?

[TMF]

Doug,

You mentioned that the Raps would like to sign-and-trade Marion for a younger version of himself. Marion's a pretty unique player, but I've always felt that Charlie V. is actually one of the most similar players to him. Thoughts?

Blogger's note: Charlie's exponentially better on offence; not as good on defence. There are few similarities in their games.

[N]

Actually, I think the Raptors will have to go over the MLE to sign Charlie V back. I only see this if Marion decides to walk, in which case the Raptors will renounce him and use some of that cash on Charlie V. Based on MLE, I am sure Charlie would rather win a ring with the Cavs then be in Toronto. I actually don't mind Charlie V as a Marion replacement. Now that Bargnani is focused on C, Charlie can play the 3/4 role ala Odom in LA.

If Marion comes back, then we will probably try to sign Linas K as a good upgrade over Joey G as the SF off the bench.

[Big Syl]

I like the idea of having Charlie V and Kleiza. With Charlie, he is more of a 4, but can play the 3. I would love to have him as insurance if Bosh decides to leave next year, he could step in at the 4 and could offer some relief for Raptors fan. Charlie V has great potential and upsides. However, I think he will command more than the mid level. With Kleiza, this will definately add depth at the 3 position. He fits the Raps style of play like a glove. Overall, if BC can get either of these guys to add with Marion, Delfino, AP and DD. Then, the raps would be all but certain to make it to the playoffs next year and years to come.

[Blake Kennedy]

So, we have all sorts of defensive issues and our solution in free agency is Charlie Villanueva? Terrible...worse idea than Kapono by far.

But at least he can keep the beat grunts informed by tweeting during halftime coaching sessions, so I'm sure you're all the way down for that.

[Matt]

Doug,

Did BC call Orlando about a possible S&T?. Portland as i see it right now has 8.9 million in cap space if they renounce their players overseas/second round draft picks. How could they offer Hedo 10 million a season?. Also i hope Hedo is a raptor hes exactly what this team needs would BC consider renouncing his FA in order to sign him to a similar deal. I dont understand it from a portland perspective they need a PG more than anything not a SF. This would eliminate them trading for Kirk/Miller unless the bulls/sixers took back more salary because portland cant go over the cap in a trade and that would require portland sending multiple players.

So is BC still going after Turk #1 and is he offering Orlando a S&T with Marion?

Blogger's note: I didn't hear the call first-hand but I'm sure he made it.

[Rob.V]

Doug, is Charlie capable of guarding 3's night in night out. Would that be the intent of the potential signing or is this also insurance in case we have to move Bosh. I realize this may ALL be premature, however what is your take on the Raps interest?

Blogger's note: He can guard most threes, yeah; as easily as he can guard fours. In fact, lots of coaches think three is his most natural position.

[Mike]

They way I am understanding it is that BC can either sign any of the raps restricted free agents whose contracts are up to new deals and then trade the contracts out for new personell...or BC can sign CV oetc. for less than $5mm and then waive someone from the current roster? I don't get why only sign and trade options would clear up cap room for the raps...these players' contracts are finished, so if the contract is infished then why would that be taking up cap space...thanks Doug if you can shed some light. Happy Canada Day

Blogger's note: Sign and trade transactions don't clear cap room, the only way to clear cap room is to renounce the rights to existing free agents like Marion, Parker, Delfino, Douby, O'Bryant and Graham.
They take up cap space under what's called a "cap hold" which is why they would have to renounce them or wait until they signed somewhere else

[Eric]

Ahhhh yes! I love it when Doug's wrong! Over and over again! Laughable. All that talk a few wks ago about how the Raps frontline is full and there's no room for Pops let alone anyone else, was thankfully Duog's bias run amock. This team needs to get bigger, they need to rebound better, they need to get tougher, and that's not done by improving the backcourt. This was Dougs's list, "Bosh, Bargnani, POB, Jawai, Humphries, Nesterovic"- as if there's no need for improvement!!! Only Dougers and his faithful don't see the elephant in the room. I don't know if Kleiza or CV is the answer but at least it tells me that BC hasn't lost all his marbles. Dougie on the other hand, "Kapono for Evans.... oh no... what am I going to do?.... Calls to Kleiza and Charlie........ how do I save face?!" LOL. Relax Dougers. You're learning! Go Raps.

[Tim W.]

The call to Villanueva is truly perplexing. He's not a small forward and he duplicates the weaknesses of the starters. If the Raptors were going after a big, I would hope they would go after someone who can score inside and protect the paint, none of which Villanueva does.

Kleiza's a better option, but I'm hoping there are other's the Raptors are looking at.

[Sivart]

Oh Eric... "get bigger" "rebound better" "get tougher"

Right, so bringing in one of the softest 6'11" bigs in the league is our solution to getting bigger and tougher. If anything bringing back CV would be an indication that BC does not expect Bosh to be back after next season (or maybe trade him even sooner). A frontcourt of Bosh, Bargnani, and CV would be one of the softest in the history of the nba.

[Darren]

Channing Frye is available since Portland didn't extend a qualifying offer. He's a better fit than Kleiza and arguably just as affordable. He plays inside and rebounds more than either of those two. And with Bosh and Bargnani already shooting jumpers, the last thing we need is another Big standing at the 3-point line.

What about Jarrett Jack with Indiana? They drafted AJ Price, doesn't that make Bosh's Georgia Tech buddy available?

[Mark]

The Charlie V scenario really surprises me - but in a good way. Kleiza would bee a good addition. No word on Rasho? Any offers there? If they went with CV would they even bring in Rasho?

Blogger's note: No word on Rasho yet; not sure when, or if, we'll hear about him.

[Steve]

LK has looked real good when he got a chance to play. No way Denver can afford to keep him - BC should try to pick him up early for min. dollars if he can!

I think bringing CV back to Toronto would be the feel good story of the year. Lots of good will here, the fans loved CV. Might actually help sell some season tickets. Marion may be the (much) better player, but Rap fans have no attachment to him (yet).

Nice start to the FA period.

[al]

Eric pretends to hate everything you do/say but I think he is secretly in love with you, Doug.
Watch out!